Mushville Democratic Union#
The Mushville Democratic Union (MDU), often referred to by the name of its capital Mushville, is a fictional nation in the SuriVerse. It is a union of five member states and one territory, presided over by Surillya.
Within the SuriVerse the MDU is a physical place with land, cities, infrastructure and a resident population - the setting for several Surillyacom projects, including Pokémon: Cloudbright and HambLife. Its design draws on the Twin Cities of Minnesota and on Black City from Pokémon Black Version.
Etymology#
Surillya dislikes mushrooms as food, and the name became a permanent reminder of that: a mnemonic for the Union's best-known rule, the prohibition of mushrooms in food. Decorative use of certain mushrooms, such as the fly agaric, remains permitted, subject to restrictions on species and place of display.
The second element of the name reflects the Union's self-description as a democratic association of cities, towns and resorts rather than a single settlement. When Surillya reinvented Mushville as a capital during a Minecraft project in which participants founded factions and nations, the Mushville Democratic Union was born, with Surillya as President for life.
History#
Origins (2017–2024)#
Mushville existed for years as a recurring place name with no political character: a town in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, then an island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Foundation (2024)#
The Union was founded in 2024 on a Minecraft server, where participants established factions and nations. Mushville was reconstituted as the capital of a union of cities, towns and resorts. The Union later grew beyond the server project and became the main setting of the Surillyacom Entertainment games.
Constitutional period (2026– )#
The constitution was ratified on April 19th, 2026. It fixed the office of President for life, created the office of Vice President, established the mechanism for popular voting and petitions, and made both Articles and Amendments permanent and unrepealable.
The Mushville Broadcasting Service launched on May 24th, 2026.
Geography#
Within the SuriVerse, the MDU mainland is roughly circular, about 20 miles in diameter, covering approximately 314 square miles. The capital, Mushville, is on the north-eastern side.
Member states and territories#
| Name | Mushvillian | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mushville | Muvil | MV | Founding state and capital |
| Jabonia | Jabonia | JA | |
| Markistan | Makisan | MA | |
| United Democratic State | United Sate | US | |
| Pulloverian | Puloverian | PU | |
| Mushville Resort | Resoto | - | Car-free territory of Mushville; not a member state |
The MDU is not a federation. Member states hold no legislative power of their own: they may make local arrangements within the framework of Union law, but cannot enact statutes independently of the Union or override one the Union has adopted. All lawmaking power rests with the citizens voting as a single body.
Landmarks#
- Mall of Mushville (MOM) - the Union's principal shopping complex.
- The Twin Towers of Mushville - a pair of towers of 13 and 14 floors.
- The pink inn - an inn\, notable for its exterior color.
Government and politics#
The MDU is a unitary direct democracy under a President for Life. There is no legislature; matters belonging to the citizens are decided by direct vote.
Constitution#
The constitution is the supreme law of the Union and consists of nine permanent Articles and six Amendments. The Articles may not be altered, repealed or suspended by anyone, including the President. The constitution may grow only by the addition of new Amendments, which require a two-thirds majority of votes cast, may not contradict an existing Article or Amendment, and themselves become permanent on adoption.
The nine Articles are brief and were drafted informally during the founding period. They include the prohibition of mushrooms in food (Articles 1 and 2), a prohibition of discrimination (Article 3), a guarantee of "freedom of breakfast" (Article 4), and several self-referential provisions concerning the ratification of Article 7.
The six Amendments establish the presidency (I), the distribution of voting power (II), the vice presidency and succession (III), the right of petition (IV), the prohibition of circumventing a popular vote (V), and the immutability of the constitution (VI).
President#
The President is head of state and head of government. Under Amendment I the office is held for life and may be left only by resignation or death; no vote, court, assembly or petition may remove the holder. It has been held since foundation by Surillya.
The presidency carries no veto. Under Amendment II the President holds 20% of total voting power in any vote of the Union and the Vice President holds 5%, with the remaining 75% divided equally among all citizens at one vote each. Shares are recalculated from the number of citizens voting so as to preserve those proportions, rounded up to the nearest whole vote, with a minimum of one vote each. A united three-quarters of the citizenry can always overrule both officers.
Vice President#
The Vice President is elected by a vote of all citizens, the President included, and exists chiefly for succession: on the death or resignation of the President, the Vice President immediately succeeds to the presidency for life. Every two years the citizens may vote to retain or replace the Vice President. Amendment III bars any Vice President who causes, attempts, conspires in or is complicit in the death, incapacitation or unlawful removal of the President from succeeding, and forfeits the office in such a case.
The office is currently vacant.
Votes and petitions#
Amendment V voids any act by the President or any official that substitutes a restricted vote, alters procedure, or is otherwise designed to avoid a popular vote or to escape being overruled.
Amendment IV establishes a right of petition. Any petition signed by at least 10% of citizens must be formally received, considered in good faith, and answered by the President with a public, reasoned response; it may not be ignored, indefinitely delayed or dismissed.
Political parties#
The current legal code makes no provision for political parties, and none are registered with the Union.
Law#
Statutes are ordinary law adopted by vote. They sit beneath the constitution, which is supreme, and no statute may contradict it. The full legal code has three categories.
General Provisions (GGL) - national symbols\, language and currency. GGL-001 defines the flag; GGL-002 makes English the official language of government proceedings and recognizes Muvilan as a national language; GGL-003 sets out legal tender.
Citizenship (CIT) - CIT-001 acquisition by application\, by marriage to a citizen\, or by descent from a citizen parent; CIT-002 rights to vote\, to stand for the vice presidency and to petition; CIT-003 the MDU passport as official identity document\, which every citizen must hold\, with loss or theft to be reported promptly so a replacement can be issued; CIT-004 renunciation at any time by written notice; CIT-005 revocation only for serious misconduct and only by vote.
Conduct and Sanctions (POC) - POC-001 harassment and abuse; POC-002 fraud and theft\, for which restitution may be ordered; POC-003 bribery and abuse of office; POC-004 unauthorized access to Union systems\, data theft and disruption of services; POC-005 the available sanctions (warning\, fine\, removal from office\, revocation of citizenship)\, which must be proportionate to the offense; POC-006 the right of every accused member to a fair hearing and a reasoned decision before a sanction is imposed.
Military#
The MDU maintains no armed forces of any kind and describes itself as a neutral, war-free nation.
Economy#
Under GGL-003 both the MDU dollar (MDUD, symbol M$) and the United States dollar are legal tender. The MDU dollar is pegged to the US dollar at US$1 = M$150. Other currencies may be accepted at the pegged value, with transaction fees borne by the sender.
Businesses may be either state-owned or citizen-owned.
Demographics#
The MDU does not collect or publish data on the ethnicity or religion of its citizens as a matter of policy, holding such information to be outside the proper business of the state.
Languages#
American English is the official language of government proceedings under GGL-002. Muvira (also rendered Mushvillian) is recognized as a national language.
Religion#
Citizens hold freedom of religion. The government describes itself as atheist and neutral, and does not record religious affiliation.
National symbols#
Flag#
Under GGL-001 the flag has a 3:2 aspect ratio and consists of three vertical bands in pastel pink, pastel blue and pastel pink. The pink is #fbcce7 and the blue is #9bddff.
The Union has deliberately not adopted a coat of arms or other national emblem.
Anthem#
The national anthem is "Mushville", composed by President Surillya in 2026. It is an instrumental composition.
Communications#
Telephony#
The MDU uses the calling code +001. Numbers are written +001 (AA) XXX-XXX, and a local call needs only the last six digits. Local numbers start with a digit from 2 to 9.
Each area code spells its state's letters on a phone keypad:
| Code | Letters | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | MV | Mushville |
| 67 | MR | Mushville Resort |
| 52 | JA | Jabonia |
| 62 | MA | Markistan |
| 87 | US | United Democratic State |
| 78 | PU | Pulloverian |
| 88 | - | Toll-free, anywhere in the MDU |
Codes starting with 0 or 1 are reserved for the operator and services. The short codes are 911 for emergencies, 411 for directory help and 611 for phone support.
Media#
The Mushville Broadcasting Service (MBS) is the Union's public broadcaster. It launched on May 24th, 2026 and publishes articles on domestic and international affairs, alongside news from Surillyacom Entertainment.
Culture#
Everyday culture in the MDU largely follows that of the United States, including its traditions, media, cuisine and holidays.
The most distinctive cultural feature of the Union is its prohibition of mushrooms in food, entrenched in the constitution and the source of the Union's name. Mushrooms remain permitted as decoration, subject to restrictions on species and place of display.